Victor Conte, mastermind of BALCO doping scandal, dies aged 75 of cancer
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Victor Conte, the central figure in one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of sports, has died at the age of 75.
Conti’s company, Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), announced his death in a Share on XSaying that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
“We are saddened by the death of our brave leader,” the post read. “We will respect his wishes. SNAC and his legacy will carry forward, strong and forever. We love you, Conte!”
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Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, has died at the age of 75. His company, SNAC, announced his death on social media. (to imagine)
Conte’s previous venture, BALCO, made national headlines in 2003 when federal agents raided the company as well as his home in Northern California as part of an investigation into a doping scandal that rocked several sports leagues, most notably Major League Baseball.
He later pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, and admitted to supplying performance-enhancing drugs to several high-profile athletes, including Barry Bonds, the home run king of baseball, and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones.
Marlon Byrd has no concerns about working with Conte
While Conte expressed remorse for his role, he also spoke about his controversial legacy in a Netflix documentary:
“When Marion Jones got to the finish line and won the gold medal, when Barry Bonds had all these great accomplishments, you know, any of these great accomplishments, those are the things I’ll always be proud of.”
Victor Conte, founder of BALCO speaks with the media in federal court after his sentencing in the BALCO steroid case on October 18, 2005, in San Francisco, California. The case, which drew international attention to athletes’ steroid use, ended today with Victor Conte sentenced to four months in prison and four months of house arrest. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
Conte ended up spending four months in a low-security federal prison in California as part of his sentence.
SNAC Conte developed and sold natural nutritional supplements, but he was not completely removed from the sport. He was a boxing consultant, and clients included Terence “Bud” Crawford and Claressa Shields.
That’s not to say Conte doesn’t have his critics yet, as Crawford’s last fight against Canelo Alvarez sparked skeptics who thought he might have been cheating with Conte on his team.
“Please do not emphasize the negativity of my past too much,” Conte said. USA Today Before Crawford won a unanimous decision over Alvarez to make him a three-belt champion.
BALCO Founder and President Victor Conte speaks at a panel discussion titled “Tribeca Conversations: Injecting the American Dream” during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on May 3, 2008 in New York City. (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)
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Conte was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last May, but continued to work with athletes from his hospital bed in his final months.
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